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Fremantle

Abstract

The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus recently hosted a public meeting which raised the future workforce needs of general practice in Western Australia.

Held to coincide with recent publications in the Medical Journal of Australia from the University’s General Practice and Primary Health Care Research Unit, topics covered included: ‘Future work intentions of GP Registrars’ by Associate Professor Diane Arnold-Reed, the ‘Pre-Vocational General Practice Placement Program’ by Ms Maryanne Coombs from the Western Australian General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET), and the ‘Retirement intentions of GPs aged 45-65 years’ by Associate Professor Tom Brett.

In his presentation, Associate Professor Brett highlighted some of the emerging areas in health services delivery facing Australians.

“We are faced with an ageing population coupled with increasing problems of multi-morbidity and chronic disease – at a time when a third of the more senior, experienced GPs are contemplating early retirement.

“The new generation of GPs have a different professional discourse to work, with a greater emphasis on work-life balance,” explained Associate Professor Brett.

The meeting, which generated significant interest from the audience, was introduced by Notre Dame’s Provost, Professor Mark McKenna, and the special guest was the Chief Medical Officer in Western Australia, Dr Simon Towler.

Dr Towler said that there is an urgent need for general practitioners to provide the leadership in this whole area as they were ‘the best equipped to deal with it’.

Dr Towler expressed his appreciation to the Notre Dame’s School of Medicine for its approach in actively integrating general practice and general practitioners into curriculum delivery for the medical students.

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